Walter Radabaugh

The evening of Thursday, February 19, 2009, Walt Held JoAnnes hand for one last moment, before taking his last earthly breath. Born November 13, 1931, in White County Arkansas, Walter Robert Radabaugh was born the son of Walter E. Radabaugh and Gertrude Franklin Radabaugh. Walt attended schools in Denmark and Brandon, Arkansas, Pleasant Hill and Durant, Oklahoma. At age 17, he enlisted in the 45th Infantry Division of the Army National Guard in Durant, Oklahoma. When the guard was mobilized, he was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana and then on to Japan. The remainder of his service time was spent on the front lines during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1952. After his discharge, he was employed with Chamber and Borten Construction Company, building concrete grain elevators. While working on elevators in Fredonia, Kansas, he met and married JoAnne D. Reno on June 3, 1956. In 1957 the couple moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma. Walter was employed by Conoco, Inc. and worked as a technician and test engineer for 28 years taking early retirement in 1985. Walter was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge: Ponca City 83 and Newkirk 88. He served two terms as Worshipful Master and was secretary of the lodge for many years. Walter was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. Walts avocations were his clocks and the family pets. He built clocks, and could fix most clocks. With JoAnnes approval, he had several clocks adorning the walls of the family home. The other ladies in Walts life were Maxine, Pepper and Sassy, each a schnauzer and very much part of the family. Walter is survived by JoAnne, his wife of 52 years; son, Kurtis; brother, Dan and his wife, Linda of Houston, Texas; half sister, Martha Shanks and her husband, John of Bald Knob, Arkansas; half brother, Martin Collins and wife of Van Buren, Arkansas; sister-in-laws, Joyce Dewey of Del City, Oklahoma, Velma Marler of Neodesha, Kansas, Gladys McLaren of Alice, Texas and Pat Hale and husband, Don of Wichita, Kansas. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Walt was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Cora Deeter. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at Grace Memorial Chapel with The Rev. Dr. Larry Nigh of Northeast Baptist Church officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Ponca City Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ponca City Humane Society, P.O. Box 1671, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602 or to Northeast Baptist Church, 2200 North Pecan, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74604.